Flexibility for Riding

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Matafleur

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Hay anyone tried any of the various programme for rider flexibility? I am looking for something to improve my riding further as I'm struggling a bit at the moment. We are competing at Medium and hope to be ready to do an AM early next year, but my position could use some work. My hips feel very tight (making sitting trot a joy for both of us...!) and my legs love to grip up in any moment of stress of change.

I have a biomechanics clinic booked in January but I think I also need to work on my flexibility out of the saddle. I am fit and strong (gym) but also spend all day sitting for my job. I hate stretching, it hurts, a lot!

I've looked at DRT (expensive) and a couple of others but maybe I just need a generic yoga programme? It needs to be short so I'll do it, easy enough so I'm capable of doing it but progressive enough to make a difference.

Please drop your recommendations and experiences 🙏
 
I recommend yoga, either a local class or there's some good books available that you could look at and work out which postures would help you most.
 
If you search on here for Rider Pilates Club a lot of people on here use it, including me. They run a free taster session at intervals which may be due to start.

(Have to say I’m not a good advert for flexibility but I think my tendons / muscles are made from piano wire)

ETA

Rider's Pilates Club

I have the first one to do today. It came in on Monday but I just started cycling to work again after it was too wet to do it so have been worn out when I've got home. I decided to take the car today, just so I can do the Pilates this evening. My leg muscles are all feeling tight agter 2 days...
forums.horseandhound.co.uk forums.horseandhound.co.uk
 
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I do a weekly yoga class which is actually run by a rider and the difference it makes is unbelievable - I have a bad lower back and tight glutes and hip flexors (combo of desk job and riding) and I do feel the difference.
I'm not sure how it compares to a standard yoga class as she does focus a bit more on the areas to benefit our riding
 
Reacher said:
If you search on here for Rider Pilates Club a lot of people on here use it, including me. They run a free taster session at intervals which may be due to start.

(Have to say I’m not a good advert for flexibility but I think my tendons / muscles are made from piano wire)

ETA

Rider's Pilates Club

I have the first one to do today. It came in on Monday but I just started cycling to work again after it was too wet to do it so have been worn out when I've got home. I decided to take the car today, just so I can do the Pilates this evening. My leg muscles are all feeling tight agter 2 days...
forums.horseandhound.co.uk forums.horseandhound.co.uk
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Thank you 😊 I used to do pilates but I found it better for core strength than flexibility. I was just going once a week though and doing no stretching in between (did i mention how much i hate stretching?! 😆). I suspect if I could do 2 or 3 a week then maybe I'd feel a difference.
 
sportsmansB said:
I do a weekly yoga class which is actually run by a rider and the difference it makes is unbelievable - I have a bad lower back and tight glutes and hip flexors (combo of desk job and riding) and I do feel the difference.
I'm not sure how it compares to a standard yoga class as she does focus a bit more on the areas to benefit our riding
Click to expand...
This is very similar to me. My glutes are not too bad but I have hamstrings of steel and stretching my hips makes me want to be sick - probably not that healthy!!
 
Matafleur said:
Thank you 😊 I used to do pilates but I found it better for core strength than flexibility. I was just going once a week though and doing no stretching in between (did i mention how much i hate stretching?! 😆). I suspect if I could do 2 or 3 a week then maybe I'd feel a difference.
Click to expand...

That might be part of my problem, lack of consistency!

The rider Pilates lady does do a fair bit of stretching, also techniques to turn off opposing muscles - give the 5 day free trial a go

PS I also have hamstrings of steel
 
I swear by Aligned Riding Academy by Meg Parkinson. £15 a month & three or four online pilates/yoga sessions a week all aimed for riders with love or on demand options so time pressure either. It's also broken down into seat/contact/legs etc so can choose a session something quickly to focus on a specific thing if needed.

Honestly, it blows away the previous equipilates stuff I was doing - even the Riders Pilates Club stuff which I thought was good.
 
Only stretch after your muscles are thoroughly warmed up. I used to bike and after a ten-mile ride my short tight hamstrings were wonderfully easy to stretch. Otherwise, just pain and no benefit. I also find for tension when riding a lot of it is psychological (moment of stress, as you mentioned) and it really helps just to have someone there to keep saying 'relax' frequently to remind the lizard brain not to panic. Very simple but I found it amazingly useful and allowed me to use myself effectively and to use much more subtle aids.
 
A good yoga instructor and a weekly class is great to ensure you are doing it correctly - but I would try combining it with online, Adrienne and Kassandra (and many others ) have free YouTube content, if you go along understanding the basics of your downward dog and warriors you will get much more from it!
 
Reacher said:
If you search on here for Rider Pilates Club a lot of people on here use it, including me. They run a free taster session at intervals which may be due to start.

(Have to say I’m not a good advert for flexibility but I think my tendons / muscles are made from piano wire)

ETA

Rider's Pilates Club

I have the first one to do today. It came in on Monday but I just started cycling to work again after it was too wet to do it so have been worn out when I've got home. I decided to take the car today, just so I can do the Pilates this evening. My leg muscles are all feeling tight agter 2 days...
forums.horseandhound.co.uk forums.horseandhound.co.uk
Click to expand...

I preach about this constantly. Dropped off because of life getting in the way and the difference is insane - I'm beating myself up for not keeping up!
 
MuddyMonster said:
I swear by Aligned Riding Academy by Meg Parkinson. £15 a month & three or four online pilates/yoga sessions a week all aimed for riders with love or on demand options so time pressure either. It's also broken down into seat/contact/legs etc so can choose a session something quickly to focus on a specific thing if needed.

Honestly, it blows away the previous equipilates stuff I was doing - even the Riders Pilates Club stuff which I thought was good.
Click to expand...
Just looking at this online. Half of her live classes are at 5.30am in the morning?
 
Fieldlife said:
Just looking at this online. Half of her live classes are at 5.30am in the morning?
Click to expand...
I have just signed up for a month to give it a go. I will say I found the site horrendously difficult to navigate which was a bit off putting. But I have just done one of the 30 min classes and felt a difference at the end. It's very unlikely that live classes would ever be at a time I could make (or would be willing to get up for!!) so the on demand aspect is all i need.

I'll report back if it manages to improve my very inflexible body!
 
Matafleur said:
I have just signed up for a month to give it a go. I will say I found the site horrendously difficult to navigate which was a bit off putting. But I have just done one of the 30 min classes and felt a difference at the end. It's very unlikely that live classes would ever be at a time I could make (or would be willing to get up for!!) so the on demand aspect is all i need.

I'll report back if it manages to improve my very inflexible body!
Click to expand...
“Aligned Riding Academy by Meg Parkinson. £15 a month & three or four online pilates/yoga sessions a week all aimed for riders with live or on demand options so time pressure either.”

Yes I’d love to know if others also recommend this?

Does look interesting
 
Matafleur said:
I have just signed up for a month to give it a go. I will say I found the site horrendously difficult to navigate which was a bit off putting. But I have just done one of the 30 min classes and felt a difference at the end. It's very unlikely that live classes would ever be at a time I could make (or would be willing to get up for!!) so the on demand aspect is all i need.

I'll report back if it manages to improve my very inflexible body!
Click to expand...

So glad it's made a difference :)

The main website is tricky to navigate but the mobile version through the app is so much easier. If you haven't already tried downloading the FitByWix app.
 
I always recommend personalised help, an in person or online assessment so you're doing the right exercises for you. And flexibility comes not just from stretching, but from stabilising/strengthening the thing that caused that area to be tight due to compensation. I recommend Equimech in NI, and Pilates at Blue House on Teesside, both offer online services.

Specialist saddle fitter for rider fit.
 
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